Termination Proceedings against Chief of the Bucyrus City Fire Department

Termination Proceedings against Chief of the Bucyrus City Fire Department

Posted By The Stone Law Firm, LTD || 9-Oct-2017

The City of Bucyrus has informed Bucyrus Fire Chief Jay Keller that it
will begin termination proceedings against him on Wednesday, October 11, 2017.
Chief Keller has not knowingly engaged in any wrongdoing in his nearly
30 years serving the Bucyrus community and specifically denies the City’s
allegations of misconduct. In response to the City’s allegations,
the Chief is in the process of filing a formal complaint with Ohio Civil
Rights Commission and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The basis of his complaint is that the City is engaging in age discrimination,
disability discrimination, and retaliation against Chief Keller.
Chief Keller recently underwent a serious back surgery as a result of
which he is on leave and temporarily unable to return to his duties and
responsibilities as chief. He is currently undergoing intensive physical
therapy in an effort to return to full active duty with the Bucyrus Fire
Department. Sadly, the City has made it clear through its prior “disciplinary”
actions against the Chief – at the behest of disgruntled ex-firemen
– and now its termination notice that it has no intention of giving
Chief Keller the opportunity to serve his community ever again as a fireman.
Chief Keller spent almost three decades fighting fires and serving this
community without a single disciplinary report - until now. Jay is an
honorably discharged veteran of United States National Guard. And his
personnel file demonstrates that he is a highly decorated civil servant
who has held his position as Chief of the Bucyrus City Fire Department
with distinction since 2002.

Chief Keller and his family invites the media to meet with him and his
wife at his attorney’s office tomorrow, October 10, 2017 at 4:00
p.m. located at The Stone Law Firm, Ltd., 840 South Sandusky Avenue, Bucyrus,
Ohio 44820.